Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1887-04-29
THE PiST, PRESENT md FUTUPE Il
OF DOUGLAS COUNTY
IT'S Resonrees--And .adrantagcs

N--~
lands have advanced in value about all they
will without further material improvements;
and as many OF the old settlers are now we'll
advanced in years and their children have
married and gone to settle other new coun-
tries for the same reason that their parents
settled here, the latter now want to sell a
portion oftheir large holdings and put the
money at interest since they cannot in their
aged condition proftably manage their estates;
and therefore they are desirous to sell a por-
tion-some will sell all. THERE'S also another
satisfied to long remain in a country after,
what is termed, ''cultured society" begin to
assume position and introduce their "new
tangled ideas" into the country. The pioneer
has located himself here and by his toll
through hardships and privation made the
wilderness bloom and smile with plenty. He
has battled with Indians and wild animals for
quarter Of a century, overcome the former
and inagreat measure banishedth the latter TO the
mountains, and has built UP quiet and pleas
ant home surrouned with culture, comforts and
played his part in crystalizing socitey inte re-
hnement by the development Of all the reform
atory institutions that characterize benevo-
lent and humane people; thus fitting the howl
ing wilderness as they found 1t 80 or 40 years
ago for the enjoyment Of all who my wish to
come and see us or abide with and amongst
us. Then there were no fertile fields and boun-
tiful harvests, no roads to populous cities, but
in their stead ''only traif' was with difficulty
cut through the woods from one settler to an
other; no school house was known here where
the pioneer could send his little ones to be IN
structed in the simple rudiments Of educationi
no church gong bell could be heard. No,
nothing of these social advantages could be
ndulged in; but instead thereof, the pioneer
ihad to labor early and late 10 build his rude
cabin, break the virgin soil, keep vigilan
eye on the willy Indian and crafty thieving
coyote, cougar, bear and wolf prowlIng around
his domestic animals; while his companion
supplied, as best she could after her domestic
duties, the office of teacher to the dear ones Al
home, with scarcely any relief from these
tedious, yet love endured responsibilities
Now the scene is changed, plenty, peace ant
comfort abound, and when our sfeasterr
cousin" come tosee us we can make them feel al
home; cater to their creature comforts, crafty
their intellectual desires with good schools,
books, magazines and papers and satisfy theil
social and spiritual aspirations by lectures and
clerical ministrations on the Sabbath. These
achievements have been the work of the
hardy, long g-suffering, pains-taking and priva
ton enduring pioneer. Now that he and hi
faithful wife, the companion of his tolls ant
| trlbulations, have endured so much TO subdu
the wilderness and fit it for civilized llie, VIII,
will grudge them the present enjoyment Q
the comforts they are now surrounded with ii
climate so genial and lovely-an almos
perpetual spring and summer. No wonde
they had no desire to sell their homes aroun
which clustered SO many recollections of hard
ships, toll and privations they endured Will
making it, ald.. the hallowed memories of tn
little ones conhding and trusting in ther
amid these varied scenes Of early pioneer life
But time is great leveler. The shiftin
scenes Of life, like the kaleidoscope at ever
turn presents new picture, and the last on
is never like any of the former except as t
colors, the precise figure is never repeated
So, too, it is the fate Of all peoples. Th
early settler is often, by chain of circun
stances, compelled to dispose of his dear love
home where he has lived third of a centul
and go elsewhere. These circumstances ma
be the result Of misfortune, sickness or final
cial mistake in incurring debts that will ofte
swallow up lovely home. Or what is equal
effective often desire to better ones conditic
| will induce one to sever ties that nought els
will. These inducements have cause
few of our citizens to offer their homes f
sale. Their lands have advanced in valu
they are now old and the money their Ian,
are we'll worth, put at interest, will suppo
them the balance Of their days in ease al
: comfort. Thus few are willing to sell tht
homes however 10th they are to part wi
them; while few want to sell to enable the
to go where they can get government lal
though that change involves anew the har
ships Of pioneer life. The writer of this h
been resident Of this state IS years al
during that time he has witnessed the fewt
sales offarms Of any similar territory in {
eastern states in half that period, and C
only account for it upon the theory that
long as government lands were TO be had
the minimum price Of $I.25 per acre, til,
!" was no desire to sell-holding on to their la
until the government lands were exhaust
l. that they might secure an evitable rise. T
,hoery is undoubtedly the correct one.
E. ARGUS